Brian Bennett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Bennett (born 9 February 1940, in Palmers Green, North London, England) is a drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and record producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group, The Shadows.
[edit] Biography
Educated at Hazlewood School, Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill School, he left at the age of sixteen to play drums in a skiffle group for holiday makers in Ramsgate. After returning to London and playing in several groups, he became a member of Marty Wilde's Wilde Cats in 1959. After a successful period with the Wilde Cats, during which he appeared on their instrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), "Trambone", he backed Tommy Steele for some of his London stage performances, and in October 1961 he joined The Shadows as the replacement for Tony Meehan.
He stayed with the group for all their subsequent line-ups, and as of May 2005 was taking part in an European tour. As well as his work with the Shadows he is also a prolific composer, particularly of soundtrack music for films and television programmes, including The Ruth Rendell Mysteries and Pulaski. He also appeared in Cliff Richard's backing band and plays piano and occasionally vibraphone.
He is also an orchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His son Warren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.
| The Shadows |
|---|
| Hank Marvin | Bruce Welch | Brian Bennett Jet Harris | Tony Meehan | Brian Locking | John Rostill | Ian Samwell | Terry Smart |
| Production |
| Norrie Paramor | Peter Vince | Warren Bennett | Abbey Road Studios |
| Related articles |
| Cliff Richard | 1960s |
